02/11/2014

Extending Tire Life

When it comes to tire health and repair, there are varied opinions on how far one should go. We have featured a number of hacks mostly focused on short-term solutions - namely getting you home if trouble is encountered in the middle of a ride and you don't have the tools or equipment you need (see recent "So Money" post). Others want to do anything they are able to do to milk all of the life out of a tire possible.

Reader Nick, who blogs over at bicyclosis, submitted a hack meant to extend the life of a tire with a sidewall/bead issue. He posted the following picture to his site:

On his site he details a hack that employes some leather and thread to patch the inside of the tire. This is the result:

While I can appreciate this hack, I also had my own experience with a sidewall/bead which I had no intention of trying to hack. I wrote about a thumping feeling I encountered a few years back in a post and here is the picture I used showing the reason for the thump.

The tire started to tear and with the placement and pressure involved, the only wise option was to ditch the tire. Once a tire starts to tear, I'm out of the hacking game unless it's a short term hack just to get me home.

I think it's in the nature of the damage. If the tire has a hole (like the one the picture) you can patch it for good with some stitches. At least this is what I claim to be the case.I've done some hundred km with mine and so far so good. In a tear situation like yours the problem is more complex because the tear will probably continue to destroy the tire even after the patch. I haven't try to patch a big tear like this, but I would try this hack on it just in case! :D

Depending on the tire being patched, multiple problems can be hacked for tires. I've used old patches on the inside to cover up any tear-throughs. I also fix a lot of old beach cruiser tires with cut-to-fit plastic soda bottles glued on the inside of wear spots. Just gotta be creative if you don't have a lot of money or are on the fly.